Hi,
Just learning how to knit on the round..
My pattern asks me to cast on 4 stitches and join for knitting in the round. I cant quite understand how to join with only four stitches, HELP?!
Thanks a lot!
B&B

I don't know the answer, but it might help others if you can link to your pattern or include a few rows of the instructions. Knowing what you're working on might make a difference in how you deal with the problem.

__________________~ GG
Happiness is catching that dropped stitch while it's still fixable..

Hi and welcome to KnittingHelp!
Yes, a pattern link is always helpful. Are you working with double pointed needles or circulars?
Joining in the round with 4sts can be a little awkward but it's do-able. It becomes a little easier if you can cast the 4sts onto one needle and knit the next few rows back and forth without joining in the round. You can then knit the sts off: one stitch onto each of 2 needles and 2sts on the third and then join in the round. The same thing goes if the pattern asks you to immediately increase in each stitch. Just start off knitting back and forth, increase, and then distribute sts and join in the round. The little gap at the beginning can be closed up later with the tail of the yarn.

I've only been knitting for about a year, but I think you would have a easier time doing this if you were working with DPN's. I'm not positive but I think you would have to use the magic loop method if you wanted to continue using circulars for such a small project.

Do you have a link to the pattern? I'd be interested to read the instructions.

Yes, that's right. This is definitely too few stitches to work with on even a small circular. Try single loop or magic loop or try dpns. Knitting the first two rows back and forth will make the beginning a little easier too.

I do something similar for toe up socks. It's my own pattern and starts with a cast on of four stitches, joined in the round, and gradual increases for the sock toe. I would suggest doing this on circulars. There are many good Youtube videos out there. If you get stuck, please ask us. What I do is join the work and kfb on all four stitches in the first round. I then pull the tail as tightly as I can to close up that hole. That will save you some sewing work when your project is done. Knitting on circulars with magic loop is easy. Just remember that every time you switch needles, your yarn should be BETWEEN the two needles, or coming from the inside of the tube. That way you won't get an unwanted yarn over gap at the end of each needle.

You can also use two circulars if you happen to have another one close to the same size. For the first couple of rows, a needle size either way won't make a huge noticeable difference. Cast on four, knit two with one circ and two with the second, then do your increases on #1, then on #2, etc. When you get enough to make the piece behave when you handle it, you can knit everything onto the circular that's the right size and keep going.